[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 188 (Thursday, September 29, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56887-56888]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-19424]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Information Collection; Day Use on the National Forests of 
Southern California

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice; request for comment.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
Forest Service is seeking comments from all interested individuals and 
organizations on the extension information collection, Day Use on the 
National Forests of Southern California.

DATES: Comments must be received in writing on or before November 28, 
2005.

ADDRESSES: Comments concerning this notice should be addressed to Dr. 
Deborah J. Chavez, Pacific Southwest Research Station, 4955 Canyon 
Crest Drive, Riverside, CA 92507. Comments also may be submitted via 
facsimile to (909) 680-1501, or send an e-mail to [email protected].
    The public may inspect comments received at the address above 
during normal business hours. Visitors are encouraged to call ahead to 
(909) 680-1500 to facilitate entry to the building.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Deborah J. Chavez, Pacific 
Southwest Research Station, (909) 680-1558, e-mail to 
[email protected]. Individuals who use telecommunication devices for 
the deaf may call the Federal Information Relay Service at 1-800-877-
8339 twenty-four hours a day, every day of the year, including 
holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: Day Use on the National Forests of 
Southern California.
    OMB Number: 0596-0129.
    Expiration Date of Approval: 3/31/2006.
    Type of Request: Extension.
    Abstract: Users of urban proximate National Forests in Southern 
California come from a variety of ethnic/racial, income, age, 
educational, and other socio-demographic backgrounds. The activities 
pursued, information sources utilized, and site attributes preferred 
are just some of the items affected by these differences. Past studies 
completed through previously approved collections

[[Page 56888]]

have provided baseline information from which managers have made 
decisions, revised forest plans, and renovated/redesigned recreation 
sites. Additional information is needed for the managers of National 
Forests in Southern California, in part to validate previous results 
and in part because of the continuously changing profile of the visitor 
population recreating on the National Forests of Southern California. 
In the absence of the resultant information from the proposed series, 
the Forest Service will be ill-equipped to implement management changes 
required to respond to the needs and preferences of day use visitors. 
Data will be collected from visitors at outdoor recreation day use 
sites (these include developed picnic areas, general forest day use 
sites, off-road staging areas, trails, etc.) on National Forests in 
Southern California. Sites, dates of data collection, and individuals 
participating in the study will be randomly selected for inclusion in 
the study. Survey instruments will be available in English and Spanish 
and bilingual research teams will collect the data. Participation in 
this study is voluntary. The maximum amount of completion time will 
average 15 minutes or less. Participants will answer questions on the 
following topics: socio-demographic profile; National Forest visitation 
history and patterns; activity patterns; information and communication; 
site amenities/characteristics; perceptions about the environment and 
land uses; and general comments. Urban National Forests in Southern 
California have used the information to assist in effective management 
of recreation activities in the region studied. Data collected 
previously has been used by the agency to institute forest newspapers, 
add site renovations to an existing picnic area, and in forest 
planning. Results have been presented at local, national and 
international meetings, and have been published in several outlets. 
Data generated through this collection will be utilized in a similar 
manner as well as provide opportunities for comparisons of visitor 
profile and use shifts over time. Data will be evaluated and analyzed 
by Dr. Deborah J. Chavez at the Pacific Southwest Research Station. 
Consequences for not collecting this data would be (a) decreased 
service delivery due to decreased quality and breadth of information 
provided to resource managers on the socio-demographic profile of 
visitors, visitation history and patterns, information and 
communication, site amenities/characteristics, perceptions about the 
environment and land uses, (b) decreased ability to continue to expand 
approved research work unit's assigned study topics such as 
understanding visitor profiles, (c) increased response time for 
inquiries into topics from managers and university contacts, (d) 
increased dependency on cooperator availability to carry out research 
unit mission, and (e) loss of information represented in follow-up 
longitudinal studies.
    Estimate of Annual Burden: 15 minutes per respondent.
    Type of Respondents: Recreation visitors to urban National Forests 
in Southern California.
    Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 600 per year.
    Estimated Annual Number of Responses per Respondent: 1 per year.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 150 hours.
    Comment is invited on: (1) Whether this collection of information 
is necessary for the stated purposes and the proper performance of the 
functions of the agency, including whether the information will have 
practical or scientific utility; (2) the accuracy of the agency's 
estimate of the burden of the collection of information, including the 
validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance 
the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; 
and (4) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
respondents, including the use of automated, electronic, mechanical, or 
other technological collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.
    All comments received in response to this notice, including names 
and addresses when provided, will be a matter of public record. 
Comments will be summarized and included in the submission for Office 
of Management and Budget approval.

    Dated: September 14, 2005.
Ann M. Bartuska,
Deputy Chief for Research & Development.
[FR Doc. 05-19424 Filed 9-28-05; 8:45 am]
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